Mechanism for handling hanging scenery in theaters.



. S. G. BAILEY.

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING HANGING SGBNERY IN THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1910. 1,027,027. Patented May 21, 1912.

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' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1910. I 1,027,027. Patented May 21, 1912.

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, S. G. BAILEY. 4

v MECHANISM FOR HANDLING HANGING SOBNERY IN THEATERS. 1 ,027 g027o APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.

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,s. G. BAILEY. MECHANISM FOR HANDLING HANGING SGENERY IN THEATERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1910.

1,027,027. I Patented May 21, 1912.

4 QHEETB-BHEET 4- ITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SETH Gr. BAILEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO MARTIN BECK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND ONE-FOURTH TO ANDREW C. CARSON, OF DEN- VER, COLORADO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed November 28, 1910. Serial No. 594,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH G. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Handling Hanging Scenery in Theaters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for handling hanging scenery in theaters, and while more especially in tended for this use, it may of course be employed. in handling loads of any kind. The invention, however, will be herein described in connection with its use for handling the flies or scenic members in theaters.

My present construction operates in a general way in the same manner as the construction disclosed in Letters Patent No. 977,500, issued to me December (3, 1910. While the general construction and arrangement of my present invention are similar to those set forth in the aforesaid patent, the clutch mechanism for locking the operating drums upon their respective shafts is specifically different, as well as the means for operating the clutch members employed in connection with the drums. In my present construction the two operating shafts are horizontally disposed and mounted one directly above the other, a worm wheel being made fast to each shaft, the two shafts being rotated in opposite directions through the instrumentality of an inter posed worm. The operating drums are loosely mounted on these shafts, the lower drum employed to perform the lifting function being connected with the upper drum by means of a cable which is drawn from the upper drum and wound upon the lower drum during the curtain-lifting operation.

In this event the lower drum is fast upon its shaft by virtue of its movement into engagement with its clutch member, while the upper drum is loose upon its shaft and controlled entirely by the movement of the lower drum. On the contrary, while the curtain or scenic member is dropping, the lower drum is loose upon its shaft, while the upper drum is fast thereon, and as the cable connected with curtain, fly or scenic member is unwound from the upper drum, the cable which connects the two drums is unwound from the lower drum and wound upon the upper drum, preparatory to the performance of the curtain-lifting operation, as heretofore described.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section illustrating my improved apparatus connected in operative relation with a scenic member. Fig. 2 is a view looking at right angles to Fig. 1 and showing a series of units, three of the said units, namely those at the left, being shown in section, while three other units at the right are shown in elevation. This view is on a scale greatly enlarged as compared with Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the band brake with which each of the lower drums is equipped, the manner of operating the brake being shown in this view, which is on a still larger scale. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-5, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 1-5, Fig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism viewed as in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the manner of automatically operating the clutch members, shown on a larger scale than in the other views. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 7, looking downwardly. Fig. 9 is an elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating the three positions of the cam members of the two drums during the operation of the mechanism.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the framework of the operating mechanism upon which upper and lower shafts 6 and 7 are journaled. Upon these shafts are respectively mounted upper and lower drums 8 and 9. Each upper drum 8 has two distinct grooves 10 and 12 formed in its periphery, the groove 10 being adapted to receive a cable 13 connected with the lower drum 9, while the other groove is adapted to receive a cable 14: connected with a pulley block 11 carrying pulleys 15, 16 and 17, which respectively engage the three cables 18, 19 and 20 employed in connection with each scenic member'21, the said pulleys engaging the cables in running relation intermediate the cable extremities, the latter being re spectively attached to the scenic member and the pin-rail 22. Between the pulley block 11 and the pin-rail three pulleys 23, 24 and 25 and three other. pulleys 26, 27 and 28, are located, the said pulleys forming an anti-frictional support for the cables 18, 19 and 20 when the apparatus is in use. Between the pulley block and the scenic member, pulleys 29, 30, 31, 32, 38 and 34 are located, the said pulleys forming anti-frictional supporting guides for the cables 18, 19 and 20 between the traveling pulley block and the scenic member.

Attention is called to the fact that the pulleys 15, 16 and 17 carried by the pulley block 11 vary in size, the lowermost pulley 15 being the largest and the other pulleys graduallydiminishing in size, the uppermost pulley 17 being smallest. The object of this construction is to make it practicable to employ a relatively short pulley block and at the same time prevent the interference of the cables with each other as the sharpness of their angles varies during the downward movement of the pulley block. It is important to employ a relatively short pulley block, since by so doing the block is permitted to travel vertically a comparatively long distance without coming in contact with the stationary structure 35 above, or the framework 5 of the operating mechanism below. This construction and arrangement permits the raising and lowering operation to be performed within a space of less height than would be required were a longer pulley block used.

Attention is called to the fact that the framework 35 is arch-shaped and carries on one side thereof the pulleys 23, 24 and 25, and on the other side the pulleys 29, 80 and 31. This framework is made arch-shaped in order to make as large a space as possible for the vertical movement of the pulley block within an inclosure of a given height.

It is evident that if the pulleys 16 and 17 were of the same size as the pulley 15, the cables, where they engage these pulleys, would be considerably nearer together at all times, and hence during the downward movement of the pulley block, by reason of the changing of the angles of the cables with reference to a vertical line passed through the axes of the pulleys, the cables would en gage each other after a comparatively short downward movement of the block. lVith the same object in view the pulleys 26, 27 and 28 mounted on a stationary support 36 made of varying size, but in the reverse order, the uppermost pulley being largest and the other pulleys diminishing in size downwardly. It may be noted that from these pulleys 26, 27 and 28, the cables extend downwardly in a direction nearly vertical to the pin-rail 22, and by virtue of the varying size of the pulleys which lie in the same vertical plane, the cables are prevented from rubbing against each other during the original adjustment of the scenic member. It may be stated in this connection that structural advantages which permit the economical use of space in a construction of this character are of the utmost importance, since the space available is always limited and constructions which require relatively large units in connection with the various scenic members are virtually prohibitive so far as their use for the purpose intended is concerned. It is for this reason that it is important that all of the pulleys employed in connection with the three cables used with each scenic member should lie in the same vertical plane, since by so doing they may be kept within the width of space required by each operating unit of the structure. This feature will be better understood when it is remembered that in a theater of medium or average size from 55 to 60 flies or scenic members are employed, requiring an equal number of operating units, all of which in order to be practicable, must be crowded within a length of space approximately equal to the length of the stage from front to rear. Hence in practice I have found it necessary to limit the width of each operating unit to approximately a space of four inches.

The lower drum 9 also has two grooves 37 and 38, the groove 37 being employed in connection with the cable 18, while the groove 38 is engaged by a hand brake 39, the latter being connected at one extremity with an angle-shaped member 1O whose lower eX- tr-emity engages a recess l1 formed in a brake lever 42 fulcrumed at 43 on a stationary bracket 44. This angle member is retained in place and in operative relation with the other parts by means of a projection 45 having an opening 46 through which a tension screw 47 passes, the opposite extremity of the hand brake being connected with the upper extremity of the tension screw as shown at 48. This mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 3. Each of the shafts 6 and 7 is equipped with a friction clutch member 49 having a sleeve 50 splined thereon and which is directly engaged by the drum 8 or 9, as the case may be. The spline of each shaft is designated 51 and it engages a groove 52 formed in the sleeve ol the clutch member. Each sleeve has a nut 53 screwed upon its free extremity. The sleeve 50 adjacent the bearing 54 of each shaft'has a washer 55 interposed between the end of the sleeve and the bearing, the intermediate sleeves being closely fitted upon the shaft in contact with each other, thus preventing endwise movement. Each drum is normally loose upon its shaft, both for ndwise and rotatable movement.

Interposed between the drum 8 and the nut 53 of the clutch sleeve are two cams 56 and 57, the cam 56, which is adjacent the drum, being equipped with an arm 58 whose outer extremity is pivotally connected as shown at 59 with a rod 60 having a threaded extremity 61 passing through a stationary part 62 formed on the framework. By virtue of this rod the position of the cam 56 upon its sleeve 50 may be regulated and positively retained in the desired positiong nuts 63 being applied to the rod on opposite sides of the part 62 for the purpose. The cam member 57 is equipped with a hand lever 64 through the instrumentality of which the cam member 57 may be adjusted with reference to its co5perating cam member 56, to move the drum 8 upon the clutch sleeve so that the drum may be caused to engage the clutch member 49, the drum and said member having opposed inclined frictional faces 65 and 66, whereby when the drum is so adjusted it is locked to rotate with the shaft 6 in harmony with its ongaging clutch member. Two similar cam members 67 and 68 are interposed between the drum 9 and the nut 53 of the adjacent clutch member 49 of the shaft 7. The cam member 68 is connected by means of a rod '69 with the cam member 57 above, so that the two cam members 68 and 57 are actuated in harmony with each other. The extremities of the rod 69 are connected with the respective cam members by means of bolts 7 0 and 71, passing respectively through the lever arm 64 formed integral with the cam 57, and a crank arm F formed integral with the cam member 68. The cam member 67 is equipped with an arm 72 which is connected by means of a rod 73 with a stationary part 74, nuts 75 being employed for securing the arm and its cam member in its proper position upon the sleeve of the adjacent corresponding clutch member 49.

Attention is called to the fact that the two cam members 56 and 57 are reversely arranged with reference to the cam members 67 and 68, whereby as the two members 57 and 68 are actuated by the employment of the hand lever 64, the cam members 56 and 57 may be separated to lock the drum 8 to rotate with its shaft, while the two cam members 67 and 68 are in close contact, leaving the drum 9 loose upon its shaft, or vice versa, as may be necessary (see positions A and B in Fig. 9). Again the two sets of cams may be so adjusted that they shall occupy corresponding positions, that is to say, shall be equally separated, leaving both drums loose upon their respective shafts, or rather the clutch sleeves upon which they are directly mounted (see position C in Fig. 9).

The drum members 8 and their coiiperating parts of any desired number of units, are all mounted upon a single operating shaft 6; while the drums 9 and their cooperating parts of all the units are mounted upon a single operating shaft 7. These two operating shafts 6 and 7 are rotated in reverse directions through the instrumentality of a worm 76 interposed between two worm wheels 77 and 78 fast upon the shafts 6 and 7, respectively. The worm 76 is mounted upon a shaft 79 journaled in the framework as shown at 80, one extremity of the shaft being connected in operative relation with a motor 81.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that if it is desired to raise the curtain or scenic member 21, the worm will be rotated to turn the shaft 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent the worm wheel 78, while the shaft 6 will be rotated in the opposite direction or the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent the worm wheel 77. In order to perform this function it is first necessary to adjust the cam members 56 and 57, and 67 and 68, as illustrated in position B of Fig. 9, or so that the drum 9 shall be locked upon its adjacent clutch 49 whereby it is caused to rotate with the shaft 7, while the drum 8 is disconnected from its clutch member 49, being therefore loose on the shaft 6, whereby it is allowed to rotate in a direction opposite the rotation of its shaft and corresponding worm wheel. In this event the drum 8 will be rotated for the purpose of lifting the curtain by the operation of the drum 9, the cable 13 being wound from the drum 8 upon the drum 9 until the scenic member is raised to the desired elevation. Now if it is desired to drop the curtain, the position of the two sets of cam members 56 and 57 and 67 and 68, will be reversed or so that the drum 8 is shifted into interlocking relation with its adjacent clutch member 49, while the lower drum 9 is left loose upon its shaft. In this event the drum 8 will be the operating device and during the unwinding of the cable 14 from the drum 8 for the purpose of dropping the curtain, the cable 13 will be unwound from the drum member 9 and wound upon the drum member 8.

My improved construction includes mechanism for automatically shifting the drums 8 and 9 of the various units when their functions of raising and lowering the curtain have been properly performed, and for this purpose each cable 14 is equipped with two enlargements or buttons 82 and 101 adapted to act upon a star wheel 83 rotatably mounted upon the upper part 84 of the framework. One of the projections 85 of each wheel occupies a position between two pins 86 and 87 upon a flat rod 88 connected with the cam member 57 of the corresponding unit.

During the operation of raising the curtain the stop button 82 is moving downwardly with its cable 14 and when the curtain is raised to the desired position the button 82 will engage one of the prongs of the star wheel 83 and move the said wheel far enough to cause another prong, acting on the pin 86, to lift the rod 88 and actuate the cam member 57 sufficiently to throw the cam members 56 and 57, and 67 and 68, from position A (see Fig. 9) to position C in the same figure. In this event the drums 8 and 9 of the unit in question are both free from their corresponding clutch members 49, whereby both drums are loose on their shafts. members are so shifted, the long arm 89 of the band brake lever 42, which is equipped with a weight 90, is allowed to drop whereby its opposite arm 91 acting upon the band brake 39, is lifted, setting the brake and virtually locking the lower drum 9 against movement and supporting the scenic member at the desired elevation. This is accomplished by virtue of a lever arm 92 which is connected with the cam member 57 in the same manner as the hand lever 64 heretofore described. In fact, the parts ('34 and 92 are formed integral with the cam member 57. This lever arm 92 is connected, as shown at 93, with one extremity of a rock arm 94, centrally pivoted, as shown at 95. The opposite extremities of this rock arm are pivotally connected with'two rods 96 and 97 whose lower extremities pass through openings formed in the long arm 89 of the brake band lever 42. During the operation of raising a scenic member, the brake band 39 is, of course, released and in this event the lever arms 64 and 92 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4,

At the same time that the cam the long arm of the brake band lever being in this event lifted by a nut 98 on the rod 97, sufliciently to loosen the brake band. The rod .96 is also provided with an actuating nut 99 adapted to accomplish the same function when the cam member 57 together with the lever arms 64 and 92 is moved to the position A in Fig. 9. In this event the lever arms 64 and 92 would be in the position indicated by the dotted line 100 in Fig. 4 and the position of the rock arm 94 would be reversed from that shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and the rod 96 acting on the long arm of the brake band lever would lift the latter to release the brake during the oper ation of lowering a scenic member. During this operation the drum 8 is caused to rotate with its shaft 6, while the drum 9 is loose on its shaft 7 and rotates in response to the pull of the cable 13 as it is being wound from a drum 9 to a drum 8. During this operation the cable 14 is traveling upwardly and a stop button 101 mounted thereon act-s upon one of the prongs of the star wheel 83, actuating the said wheel sufliciently to cause the latter by engaging a pin 87 on the rod 88, to impart to the rod, and consequently the cam member, 57, sufficient movement to throw the two sets of cams into position C in Fig. 9, whereby both drums are disconnect-ed from their clutch members and free from the rotating shafts 6 and 7. In this event, as well as when the two sets of cam --members were moved to the same position during the operation of raising a scenic member, the lever arms 64 and 92, together with the rock arm 94, are in the dotted line position in Fig. 4, the long arm of the brake band lever 42 being allowed to drop under the influence of its weight sufficiently to lock the drum 9 against movement.

Attention has been called to the fact that there are two stop buttons 82 and 101 on each cable 14, one of the buttons serving to auto mat-ically disconnect one drum from its shaft when the scenic member is moved to its limit of movement in one direction, while the other serves to perform the same function with reference to the other drum when the scenic member is moving in the opposite direction.

In further explanation of the means for automatically shifting the drums to disengage them from their corresponding clutch members, it may be stated that the star wheel 83 is composed of two twin members D which cable 14 is adapted to pass freely between the two parts of the star wheel projections, but the button or enlargement 82 or 101, as the case may be, forms a stop whereby the star wheel is actuated as soon as the button reaches a projection of the said wheel. This special construction and arrangement makes the automatic action heretofore explained absolutely positive.

In order to drop all of the flies, curtains or scenic members simultaneously upon the stage, as in the case of fire or other occasion requiring such operation, it is necessary that the long arms of all the levers 42 controlling the brake bands of the series of drums 9 shall be simultaneously lifted, whereby the opposite arms of the levers shall be thrown downwardly, the brake bands of all the said drums being loosened, thus allowing the drums to rotate freely on their shafts. This is accomplished by means of a rock shaft 102 journaled in parts 103 at the bottom of the framework 5. This rock shaft is provided with a number of crank arms 104 equal to the number of levers 4 2, the crank arms being so arranged that they lie in the planes of the respective levers and beneath the long arms thereof. The rock shaft is manipulated by means of a lever arm 105 which may be manually operated to cause all of the crank or rock arms 104 to act simultaneously on the long arms of the levers 42, whereby the short arms of the said levers are all lowered and the brake bands of all the drums 9 loosened. It will be understood from the description heretofore given that the loosening of all the brake bands of the drums 9 will allow all of the raised scenic members to fall upon the stage, since when any curtain or scenic member is raised it is the brake band 39 only, acting on the drum 1 9, which supports the said member in the raised position. If any scenic member is being raised at the time that the emergency lever arm 105 is actuated, the raising operation will continue until the member has reached its upward limit of movement. It will then fall with the others for the reason that the brake band of the drum 9 of that particular unit is held in the released position and therefore does not act to lock the drum 9 as would otherwise be the case when the scenic member has reached its limit of upward movement.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved construction will be readily understood. It is assumed that the shaft 79 and the worm 76 are rotating in a direction to impart to the shafts 6 and 7 movement in opposite directions, the precise direction of movement of each shaft being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6. Now if it is desired to raise a scenic memher, the cam members 56, 57, and 67, 68 of the corresponding unit being in the osition C in Fig. 9, the operator will by virtue of the manual adjustment of the lever 64 actuate the cam members 56, 57 and 67, 68 of that particular unit to cause them to assume the position shown at B in Fig. 9, whereby the upper drum 8 is loose on its shaft 6 and the lower drum 9 fast on its shaft, since the drum 9 has been shifted into interlocking engagement with its frictional clutch member 49.. In this event the rotation of the drum 9 in the direction indicated by the lower arrow in Fi 6, will rotate the drum 8 of the correspon ing unit, the cable 13 being wound from the drum 8 upon the drum 9 for the purpose, and the cable 14 being simultaneously wound upon the drum 8 for the purpose of raising the scenic member. When this member has reached its up- .ward limit of movement, the button 82 on the corresponding cable 14 will act upon a star wheel 83 and cause the latter to act upon a pin 86 of a rod 88, to move the latter upwardly sufficiently to throw the two sets of cams 56, 57, and 67 68 of the corresponding unit into the position C in Fig. 9, whereby both drums are left loose with reference to the shafts with which they are concentrically arranged. Simultaneously with the loosening of the lower drum 9 upon its shaft, the lever arms 64 and 92, together with the rock arm 94 and the rods 96 and 97 with which the rock arm is connected, are thrown to the dotted line position in Fig. 4, whereby the long weighted arm of the brake band lever 42 is allowed to drop, thus lifting the short arm 91 and tightening the ban brake on the drum 9 of that particular unit thus supporting the scenic member in the raised position. Now if it is desired to lower a scenic member, the two cam members 56, 57 and 67, 68 are manually actuated by the use of the hand lever 64, whereby they are caused to occupy position A in Fig. 9, thus locking the drum 8 of the corresponding unit to rotate with its shaft 6, while the lower drum 9 of the same unit is loose thereon. The drum 9 will then be rotated in the direction indicated by the upper arrow in Fig. 6 and the lower drum will be rotated in the same direction, since it is loose upon its own shaft and is moving in response to the pull of the cable 13 as the drum 8 winds it from the drum 9. In this event the scenic member is allowed to drop until it reaches its limit of downward movement, and the button 101 of the cable 14 acts upon a star wheel 83 to cause the latter to act upon a pin 87 to move a rod 88 downwardly, whereby the two sets of cams on the shafts 6 and 7 of that particular unit are again shifted to position C in Fig. 9 and the long arm of the brake band lever 42 allowed to drop and tighten the brake band 39 upon the drum 9,

' whereby the scenic member is supported from dropping farther than is required during the ordinary use thereof.

Attention is called to the fact that whenever the two sets of cams upon the respective shafts are shifted to either position A or position B, the long arm of the brake band lever 42 will be lifted to release the brake band through the instrumentality of the rods 96 and 97 the rock arm 94 and the lever arms 92 and 64: connected with the 7 the stage, it is only necessary to actuate the lever arm 105 in the direction indicated byv the arrow adjacent the said lever arm in Fig. 6, whereby the rock arms or cranks 104 cor responding to the position of the long arms of all the levers 42, will act upon the said arms to raise the latter and lower the opposite arms of the said levers, whereby the brake bands of all the drums 9 are released or loosened allowing the drums to rotate freely in response to the pull or gravity of the falling scenic members, the said members acting directly to unwind the cables 14 from the drums, and the rotation of the latter serving to wind the cables 13 from the drums 9 to the drums 8. This operation of the lever 105 will cause all the scenic members to fall upon the stage, unless one or more of these members are moving upwardly, in which event the upward movement will continue until the said member or members have reached their limit of movement, when the lifting drums 9 of the corresponding units will be disengaged or loosened from the shaft 7 and as the brake bands of the drums 9 are released, the scenic members will drop the instant they have reached their upward limit of movement.

It will thus be seen that during the operation of my improved device the rotation of the shafts 6 and 7 is always uniform in direction, that is to say, each shaft rotates con tinuously in a given direction, the two shafts, however, rotating in opposite directions. It is by virtue of this fact that both operations of raising and lowering scenic members may be accomplished without changing the rotary direction of either shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a movable scenic member or other load, of two cooperating shafts, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a cable connecting one drum with the scenic member, a second cable connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with .its shaft while the other drum is loose on the other shaft, comprising clutch members mounted on the respective shafts, cams concentrically mounted with respect to the respective shafts, and means for simultaneously actuating the cams of the two shafts.

2. The combination with a movable scenic member or other load, of two cooperating shafts, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a cable connecting one drum with the scenic member, a second cable con necting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose on the other shaft, comprising clutch members mounted on the respective shafts, cams reversely arranged on the respective shafts and concentrically mounted with reference thereto, and means for simultaneously actuating the cams of the two shafts.

3. The combination with a load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose on its shaft, comprising clutch members mounted on the respective shafts, cams concentrically mounted with reference to the respective shafts, and means for simultaneously actuating the cams of the two shafts.

4-. The combination with a load, of two shafts, means for rotating the said shafts in reverse directions, the direction of movement of each shaft being constantly uniform, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose on its shaft, comprising clutch members mounted on the respective shafts, cam-s concentrically mounted with reference to the respective shafts, and means for simultaneously actuating the cams of the two shafts.

5. The combination with a movable load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts for purposes of rotation, and freely slidable in a direction parallel with their axes, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose on its shaft, comprising clutch members fast on the respective shafts, cams concentrically mounted with respect to the respective shafts, and means for simultaneously actuating the cams whereby one drum is shifted into operative engagement with its adjacent clutch member.

6. The combination with a movable load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, each drum being also free to slide in a direction parallel with its axis, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose on its shaft, comprising a clutch member fast on each shaft, a pair of cams on each shaft, the two cams being reversely arranged 011 the respective shafts, one cam of each pair being rotatably adjustable, but normally fixed in a predetermined position, the other cam of each shaft being free to rotate, whereby one of the drums is shifted to bring it into operative relation with its corresponding clutch member, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a movable load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts and also free to slide thereon, a clutch member fast on each shaft, the drums and clutch members of the respective shafts having cooperating friction faces, a flexible device connecting the load with one drum, another flexible device connecting the two drums, and means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose thereon, comprising two cams mounted on each shaft and equipped with cooperating cam faces, the two cam members of each shaft being reversely arranged, two of the cam members being fixed against rotary movement, but free to slide, the other two cam members being connected to rotate in unison, one of them being equipped with a hand lever for manipulating purposes, the arrangement being such that when the said lever is actuated two of the cam members will be caused to separate and act to shift the adjacent drum into operative relation with its corresponding clutch member, while the other two cams are caused to approach each other, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a load, of two shafts mounted to rotate in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, cooperatin clutch members fast on the respective shafts, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, means for connecting either drum to rotate with its shaft while the other drum is loose thereon, comprising cams mounted concentrically with the respective shafts, located adjacent the two drums and reversely arranged, means for simultaneously actuating the cams of both shafts whereby one drum is moved into operative engagement with its corresponding clutch member, and means for automatically actuating the cams of the two shafts whereby the fast drum is disconnected from its clutch member while the other drum is left loose upon its shaft, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a movable load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts uniformly in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a cable connecting the load with'one drum,another cable connecting the two drums, clutch members fast on the respective shafts, the clutch members and drums having opposed cooperating friction faces, cams mounted on the respective shafts and reversely ar-anged, means for simultaneously actuating the cams to cause one drum to interlock with its cltuch member while the other drum is free from its clutch member, the two clutch members being connected to move in unison, and means for automatically disengaging the interlocked drum from its clutch member, comprising a rod connected with one of the movable cam members, separated stops mounted on the rod, a wheel rotatably mounted and having arms adapted to engage the stops on the rod, and buttons carried by each cable connected with the load and arranged to act on the said wheel when traveling in either direction, whereby the wheel is caused to act on the rod to cause the latter to shift the cam members of the two shafts, for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose on the respective shafts, a band brake for one of the drums, means for normally acting on the hand brake to lock its drum against rotation, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, a clutch member fast on each shaft adjacent the drum thereon, the clutch memher and drum having cooperating opposing friction faces, cams mounted on the respective shafts and reversely arranged, means for actuating the cams to shift one drum into operative relation with its adjacent clutch member while the other drum is free from its clutch member, and means operated by the movement of the cams to release the drum from its band brake, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a movable load, of two shafts, means for rotating the shafts in reverse directions, drums normally loose onthe respective shafts, a brake band for one of the drums, a lever normally acting to tighten the band upon the drum to prevent rotary action, a cable connecting the load with one drum, another cable connecting the two drums, cams mounted on the respective shafts and reversely arranged, a clutch member fast upon each shaft, the adjacent drum and clutch member having cooperating opposing frictional faces, the drum being freely slidable in a direction parallel with its axis, means for actuating the cams Wherebyone drum is shifted into operative engagement with its clutch member While the other drum is loose upon its shaft, said means comprising a rod connecting the two cams a hand lever connected with one cam and means for simultaneonsly releasing the one drum from its band brake, comprising a lever arm connected with one of the clutch members, a rock arm connected in operative 15' the band brake lever, for the purpose set 20 forth.

In testlmony whereof I afliX my slgnature in presence of two Witnesses.

SETH o. BAILEY.

lVitnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, HORTENSE UHLRIOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

